Any Opposition Must Have Vision: Observers
By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
08 May 2008
[Editor's note: In the weeks leading into national polls, VOA Khmer
will explore a wide number of election issues. The "Election Issues
2008" series will air stories on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by a
related "Hello VOA" guest on Thursday. This is the second in a two-
part series examining the opposition.]
While the next opposition party may be difficult to predict ahead of
July=92s elections, political observers and analysts say the next
opposition should have clear and specific guidelines to resolve
problems for the people and the nation.
The Sam Rainsy Party has followed an opposition mandate since 1998.
The party grew from 15 National Assembly seats then to 24 in 2003.
Party leader Sam Rainsy has said he expects to take enough seats in
this election to be the ruling party, a prediction Cambodian People=92s
Party officials reject.
Lao Mong Hay, a rights activist and political observer for the Hong
Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission, said Wednesday the next
opposition should have influence and ideals, as well as ideas for the
country.
The opposition will have to monitor the ruling government=92s acts, he
said.
=93They should be prepared,=94 he said, =93and they should be officially
recognized by the National Assembly to be a big opposition party after
the ruling party.=94
Yong Kim Eng, president of the Center for People=92s Development and
Peace, agreed.
=93The opposition party should think about freedom and the interests of
the people, especially the problems that have happened but have been
ignored by the ruling party, the opposition should push the government
[to solve these],=94 he said.
The opposition field for this election is open to competing parties
such as Funcinpec, Norodom Ranariddh, Human Rights and Sam Rainsy.
Funcinpec Secretary-General Nhiek Bun Chhay told VOA Khmer the role of
the opposition should be to fill gaps the ruling government can=92t and
to offer constructive criticism.
=93I wish to see the opposition join together to be strong, and the
party will have to fulfill [a role] of government to build up the
country,=94 he said.
Keat Sokhun, deputy director of the Human Rights Party=92s steering
committee, said the opposition should respect democratic principles
and follow up on government actions.
=93We do not oppose without giving some advice to the government,=94 he
said.
http://www.voanews.com/khmer/2008-05-08-voa1.cfm
|
